Gate.



Patented July l5, I902.

B. T. VAN VALKENBUBG.

GATE.

(Application filed Sept. 20. 1901.)

(No llodei.)

Horn umo.. WASHWGTON, r: c.

UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RANDALL T. VAN VALKENBURG, OF LAPORTE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM E. CRIOHTON, .OF LAPORTE, INDIANA.

GATE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters fPatent No. 704,602, dated July 15, 1902. Application filed September 20, 1901. Serial No. 75,828. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RANDALL T. VAN VAL- KENBURG, a citizen of the United States, re-' siding at Laporte, in the-county of Laporte and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in farm-gates; and its object is to provide a simple, economical, and efficiently-operated gate which can be opened or closed either adjacent thereto or at a distance therefrom and without dismounting from a vehicle.

My invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts,which willbe more fully described hereinafter, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved gate and its operating mechanism when the gate is closed. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the gate, showing the position of the operating parts when the gate is open. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the gate-latch, and Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the connection of the toggle-joint with the gate-operating lever.

Like numerals of reference designate corre sponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying out the invention the essential parts of the mechanism adapting the gate to be opened and closed are so constructed and related to each other that they may be applied to a gate of any form. However, the preferred embodiment of the gate 1 is shown in the drawings, in which the operating mechanism is applied to a gate made from a metal frame filled up by wire-netting and braced by diagonal rods to add strength and rigidity thereto; but the invention ,is applicable to a gate constructed from wooden panels or pickets.

2 designates the end of a fence having the usual post 3, to which the gate is hinged in the usual manner, and 4 represents another post of the other end of the fence, which con,- tains a keeper for the spring-latch 5. Pivotedto the eye 6, secured in the corner-post 3, 'is a rod 7, engaged 'by and pi-votally connected at its other end to the eye of a boltS. This boltis provided with a sleeve 9 and a nut 10." A second rod 11 is connected to a post'12 or other suitable anchorage, and its other end is journaled upon the sleeve 9 and is thus supported by the bar 7 and forms a toggle connection therewith."

13 designates a lever'pivotally secured at one end to the gate and journaled on the sleeve 9 and extending beyond the toggle connection of the rods 7 and 11. The extended or free end of the lever carries a pulley 14, through which the rope 15 passes to a pulley 16,supported on the gate, and'the end of the rope is connected with the spring-operated rod 17 of the latch 5, while its other end is connected to a sheave block 18. Through this sheave-block 18 passes a rope 19, whichextends in opposite directions around the pulleys 20, supported on the bracketpost 21, to the pulleys on the bracket-pdsts 22. The bracket-posts 22 are'set'in line with the post 3 at some distance in the road on each side of the gate, so that the weighted handles 23 may be grasped before the gate is reached. The casing of the spring-latch5 has the flat ears 5, provided with the longitudinal slots 5", through which the tightening bolts pass to secure the'ilatch uponthe gate. By unfastening the tightening-bolts in the slots 5" the latch may be adjusted longitudinally upon the gate to adapt it toreadily engage the keeper in the post 4 when the gate has become deranged by reason of sagging or shrinkage. \IVithin the tubular casing of the latch is mounted a spring'which serves to hold the latch-rod 17 in engagement with the keeper, but which is compressed when the rod is pulled rearwardly by the rope 15.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a pull upon the weighted handle 23 will likewise pull the rope 15 and draw the free end of the lever 13 upwardly and rearwardly, and the rods 7 and 11 will likewise be thrown up and around the rear of. the posts 3 by reason of their toggle connection. This will of course draw on the lever 13 shfficientlyto open the gate as the rope 15 at the same time withdraws the latch-rod 17 against the tension of ICO i s spring in the casing and releases it from they keeper in the post 4. When the gage is operated, the rope 19 is prevented from slipping around pulley 18 by the handle 23, which comes in contact with. the pulley on the opposite post 22.

' operate both latch and lever simultaneously when the rope is pulled.

2. An operating mechanism for farm-gates comprising a lever pivotally secured at one end to the gate, a rod pivotally hung upon a post and carrying at its other end'a bolt, a rod secured at one end to an anchor-post and its other end journaled to the bolt to form a toggle connection, said lever also journaled on the bolt, an adjustable spring-latch on the gate, a rope connected to the spring-latch and to the free end of the lever, bracket-posts positioned on each side of the gate opposite its hinges,aconnection supported by the bracketposts and secured to the rope for operating the latch, the lever, and the toggle connection simultaneously, and thereby open the gate,

substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. 1

RANDALL 'l. VAN VALKENBURG. Witnesses:

HUGO OLTSCH, MAGGIE OLTSCH. 

